The export of handicrafts made from rattan and bamboo decreased this year due to various reasons including difficulties in obtaining raw materials and transportation, U Tin Myo Hsan, general secretary of Myanmar Rattan and Bamboo Entrepreneurs Association said.

Previously, there were about 15 companies manufacturing rattan and bamboo handicrafts in the country, but now there are only about 9 , and 80 percent of the rural products of handicrafts made from rattan and bamboo are exported to the foreign market while 20 percent are distributed in the domestic market.

Currently, rattan and bamboo handicrafts are exported to more than 30 countries, and most of the orders for the handicrafts from the foreign markets are small rattan and bamboo handicrafts such as tissue boxes, bowls, baskets, purses and trays.

The Ayeyarwady Region produces the largest amount of raw materials of bamboo while Tanintharyi and Sagaing regions and Kachin and Rakhine states are the regions producing the largest amount of raw materials of rattan. Currently, the price of a small rattan stem is 500 kyats in Yangon while that of a big rattan stem is around 3,000 kyats.